Parents and Caregivers

Individuals with disabilities should be given the opportunity to learn and progress in the gospel according to their abilities and desires. If your loved one expresses a desire to make sacred covenants that will help him or her progress along the covenant path, pray about these decisions, and then discuss those desires with your bishop or branch president. Ordinances are not withheld if the person is worthy, wants to receive them, and demonstrates an appropriate degree of responsibility and accountability. Persons who have intellectual disabilities and cannot adequately make decisions or repent may be considered by the bishop or branch president to be not accountable. (See General Handbook, 38.2.1.8; see also Moroni 8:5–26).

It is not uncommon for parents of children with disabilities to ask themselves “What did we do wrong?” Many people in the Savior’s day believed, as do some people in our day, that trials and challenges people face are consequences of sins they have committed. President Boyd K. Packer said: “The idea that all suffering is somehow the direct result of sin has been taught since ancient times. It is false doctrine” (“The Moving of the Water,” Ensign, May 1991, 7). By studying the following event in the Savior’s life, we can learn important truths about our adversities and challenges:

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:1–3).

The day-to-day strain of providing care can lead to physical and emotional fatigue, which can affect the well-being of family members. It is important that you find ways to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our Savior lovingly invites us:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

If you prayerfully seek the Lord’s help, you can find the strength to balance life’s demands. Here are a few tips to consider as you find ways to care for yourself:

• Daily prayer and scripture study. “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good” (Alma 37:37). Make scripture study a personal pursuit. Use the Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families manual as you study the scriptures. This will help you and your family “learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship.”
• Maintain an eternal perspective. When you look at your life from an eternal perspective, you can take strength in knowing that challenges in this life are temporary. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning his challenges, “thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7).
• Live the gospel. By living the gospel daily, you can have the Holy Ghost to strengthen and comfort you.
• Ask for help. It’s important to share the burden that sometimes comes from being a caretaker. Asking for help may be difficult, but it is a necessary part of taking care of yourself. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your ministering brothers and sisters and local leaders for help. You are not expected to do everything alone.

• Can my child or an individual I’m caring for be baptized? If an individual has a desire to be baptized, communicate your child’s wishes with your bishop or branch president. In general, ordinances are not withheld if individuals are worthy, have a desire to receive them, and can demonstrate an appropriate degree of responsibility and accountability (see General Handbook, 38.2.3.5, 38.2.1.8, 38.2.1.9).
• Can my child or an individual I’m caring for participate in temple ordinances? Individuals that have a desire to go to the temple should communicate that desire with their bishop or branch president. He will be able to help them make the best decision about receiving temple ordinances and help them prepare to receive these ordinances at the appropriate time. In general, ordinances are not withheld if a person is worthy, has a desire to receive them, and can demonstrate an appropriate degree of responsibility and accountability. They should also be able to understand the purposes and eternal significance of temples.
• Can my child or an individual I’m caring for receive the priesthood? All worthy priesthood-age males are encouraged to receive the priesthood. If the person has a desire to receive the priesthood, they should discuss their desire with their bishop or branch president. In general, the priesthood is not withheld if they are worthy, have a desire to receive it, and demonstrate an appropriate degree of responsibility and accountability (see General Handbook, 38.2.5.4).
• Can my child or an individual I’m caring for serve a mission? Many missionary opportunities are available for members with disabilities who have a desire to serve a mission. To learn about missionary opportunities for members with disabilities, see ChurchofJesusChrist.org/service-missionary or seniormissionary.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Helpful Resources:

• Boyd K. Packer, “The Moving of the Water,” Ensign, May 1991, 7–9
• Russell M. Nelson, “Sweet Power of Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 7–9
• Claudio D. Zivic, “He That Shall Endure unto the End, the Same Shall Be Saved,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 83–85
• Evan A. Schmutz, “God Shall Wipe Away All Tears,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 116–18
• Nancy Madsen-Wilkerson, “When One Needs Care, Two Need Help,” Ensign, Mar. 2016, 36–39

We are taught in the scriptures that “all thy children shall be taught of the Lord” (3 Nephi 22:13). The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that “all the minds and spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 210). Pray to know what you can do to help your children or loved ones with a disability learn the gospel. This may require adapting scripture study and home instruction to fit their needs. Provide them with appropriate opportunities that will help them draw closer to the Lord. For example, you might ask them to lead hymns, say prayers, or read scriptures. Invite them to share their testimonies and learn more about the gospel in a way they can understand. Teach them about their divine worth and potential.

If they communicate to you a desire to move forward along the covenant path, help them as needed to move forward. Remember, they have their agency and can choose what role the gospel will play in their life. However, the Lord has instructed that “all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden” (2 Nephi 26:28).

See a list of scriptures, curricula, magazines, and other resources in accessible formats.

Helpful Resources:

• Luke 14:12–14
• Mark 16:15
• Devin G. Durrant, “Teaching in the Home—a Joyful and Sacred Responsibility,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 42–45
• Teaching Children with Disabilities
• Accessible Formats

When possible, share with others relevant information about your loved one’s disability. Be open about what challenges he or she faces and how to best help him or her. If you share information in a welcoming manner and show that you are comfortable doing so, others will be willing to listen and help in any way they can. You may want to take time to write what you would want others to know about your loved one. What are his or her strengths and talents? What are some of his or her challenges? What have you found to be helpful? What can he or she do to more fully participate in the ward? What could be adapted to help him or her more fully participate in gospel learning and activities at church?

• See a letter that one parent wrote for her children’s Primary teachers.
• See examples of simple accommodations that may benefit your child.

You may also find it helpful to refer others to disability.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and other websites, articles, and books that you have found to be helpful.

If your ward or stake has a disability specialist, you may want to contact him or her and discuss your loved one’s needs. The disability specialist can be a valuable resource not only to you but also to other ward members in helping them understand your loved one’s strengths and challenges (see mycalling.ChurchofJesusChrist.org/disabilityspecialist).

Find answers to disability-related questions, policies, and guidelines.